Gwyndolyn's Gift

Gwyndolyn's Gift

Sean-Perrin "Dreamspinner" Parker

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Stumbling through the silent forest, a lone bearded warrior clutched his precious burden to his strong chest, holding it closer to him. As he neared the clearing where the sounds of celebration echoed throughout the night, he held his iron sword out in front of him to carve a way into the circle of dancing and singing faeries if he had to. Startled members of the court moved away from the fierce noble warrior, and a pathway opened up leading to the luminously pale woman dancing alone in the center of the Circle. The music hiccuped and died away, which forced Dreamspinner to regretfully slip from her enraptured trance. Her arms dropped gracefully to her sides, and her gaze was immediately captured within the intent glare of the warrior.

"Gareth?" she asked, clearly confused.

The warrior grunted in affirmation, then wordlessly held out the squalling bundle. "Gwyndolyn's son, gotten on her by one of your court, M'lady. She died in childbed early this morning. Her last words were spoken to me...She wished you to have her son. I swore an oath to bring him to you," he said brokenly as he held the child out to her. Dreamspinner's tears ran unchecked down her pale cheeks as she accepted the whimpering babe.

"Gwyndolyn's child..." she whispered.

"A child of the Circle is always welcome," a rich male voice cut through the mutterings and cries of the court, "I claim him. He is henceforth my son."

"Then you are responsible for the death of my sister and the dishonor upon our house," Gareth snarled as he turned to glare at the Faerie King. He made to lunge at the fae, but Dreamspinner was suddenly between them, the child clutched to her chest.

"No good can come of such an act Gareth," her warm honeyed voice soothed the tension and pain from the warrior, who slumped to the ground at her feet, and buried his blade into the soft new-green earth. Dreamspinner felt his tortured pain, and sent him thoughts of comfort, for she could not bear to see him suffer so. Gwyndolyn and Gareth were very close, and they had the honor of dancing many a dance within her Circle. She had welcomed them not so long ago it seemed: Two frightened, lost children in an unfamiliar forest, neither with a good sense of direction. Or so it seemed, but Dreamspinner knew better. They were called, chosen. In their delightful innocence they had thought they had stumbled across Dreamspinner's Circle by accident. Gwyndolyn grew into a maiden of unsurpassed beauty in the mortal realm, her gracefulness and good-heartedness was truly a marvel to behold. She also had the gift of music, a trait that Dreamspinner encouraged. Gareth grew to be a warrior of great honor and renown, but he felt the pull of the Circle less and less until he thought it all to be but a child's fantasy, much to Dreamspinner's regret.

The Faerie King spoke, "You and your clan shall be blessed for many generations for your gift to us. Rise, warrior, and return home to begin a new day." Dreamspinner touched Gareth's damp brow with soft fingers, her blessing coursing through his veins like a song. He looked up into her young-old eyes and knew that all would be well. He pulled his grief within and staggered from the circle without a backward glance.

Dreamspinner held the whimpering babe to her, his tiny cries of hunger could be heard throughout the silent clearing. She gathered her will and softly sighed, "Mother," as she felt her breasts grow heavy with milk. She deftly pulled up her tunic and suckled the hungry child, calmly rocking him in a soothing rhythm. She left the Circle to sit down in the embrace of the grandfather oak near the clearing, silently wondering at the pale beauty of the babe she so tenderly held in her arms. Softly tracing the child's cheek as he nursed, she sang him a golden lullaby. The Faerie King moved to stand protectively beside them.

"So, I see that you willingly accept this burden," he sounded amused.

"He is Gwyndolyn's gift. I am honored to accept him as my own." she quietly stated. He smiled in response and sat down next to her, watching the scene of pure maternal love unfolding before him. Yes, she would be a most fitting mother to his son. He could not have chosen a better candidate.

"I shall give him a kingdom when he is grown," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Which one?" Dreamspinner asked curiously.

"He shall choose amongst them," the Faerie King said confidently.

His answer made Dreamspinner smile faintly as she looked down at the babe, "What if he does not want one?"

"Then he shall be whatever he wishes to be," was his ready reply. Dreamspinner's teal-bright eyes glinted mischievously as she regarded the man beside her.

"Good," She said smiling seraphically. The King returned her smile with great pleasure and reached out to tug on one of her wayward red-gold curls. Yes, a she would be a most fitting mother indeed.

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The child grew and flourished among the fae. He was beloved by all, and danced in their Circles from the time he could walk, with always-eager hands available for him to hold. He grew into a man of pale beauty, much like his father. One day as he sat tuning his harp by the window, his father arrived at Dreamspinner's cottage. It was clearly the time for Talisen to voice his decision. The young man looked the woman he had been honored to call 'mother' deeply in the eyes, knowing she would understand and support any decision he made. He found great comfort in that quiet knowledge, and sent his thoughts to her in appreciation. She smiled faintly and clasped his fine artisan's hands within her own.

"Well, my son, What do you wish?" The pale King spoke quietly, his voice thrumming with strong undercurrents of emotion.

"I wish to go aboveground to the mortal realm, father." Talisen calmly replied.

"I see...and is there naught we can do to change your mind?" his father's disappointment clearly showed on his features, and Talisen realized how hard it must be for his loved ones to let him go.

The young man smiled gently, but firmly answered, "No."

"Go then, my son. Our blessings and our hearts go with you," his father swept him up in a great hug, sending him thoughts of how proud he was of him. The King then let his child go and left the cottage with a heavy heart.

Dreamspinner embraced her child once more, then opened the portal for him to cross into the mortal realm, "You will bring beauty and comfort to those whose lives you touch, for your music shall be a joy to all that hear it." Talisen smiled as he brushed a wayward strand of flame-bright hair from his mother's face. He knew the travel-pack she had prepared for him would be fully supplied with all he could ever want or need. It would be enchanted; the seemingly simple satchel woven with spells of plenty and protection beautifully entwined within the tapestry. He had seen her at work on this piece, her head bowed in concentration as she pulled special threads from the Twilight Realm to serve in its making. When he had walked over to peer at her work, his faerie-trained eyes had noticed the incredible arcane pattern woven within it. He smiled at the memory, lovingly retracing his moments with his mother in his mind. He could never write a song to do her justice, but he would try.

"I shall always love you," she said softly, "You will see me in dreamtime, my son, this I promise."

"I shall remember," he said as he shouldered his treasured harp and walked the cold pathway toward the mortal realm. He glanced back once, and saw his mother's luminous presence- fire and moonlight; her hands clasped over her heart as she bid him farewell.

The Faerie King watched silently from the shadows. When Dreamspinner closed the portal, he stepped out and greeted her, regretfully noting the tears which coursed down her pale cheeks. He gently pulled her into his embrace, and they wordlessly shared their loss with each other.

"A dance in the circle, bright-one?" he whispered as he smoothed her shining fiery tresses with his fingers. Her locks curled exquisitely about his long fingers, and he briefly admired the effect.

She looked him deeply in the eye and smiled gently, "Yes, it would be most fitting."

*Well, I hope that you have enjoyed my cyberchild. I have sent him out to play amongst you mortals... listen carefully within your heart and you might just be blessed with his song. :-)